The UNM administration has vowed to change its ways after The Albuquerque Journal ran an exposé last month that revealed how much University money is being spent on alcohol.
The Journal's article focused on Marc Saavedra, director of UNM's Government and Community Relations office.
The Journal uncovered receipts for large alcohol purchases in bars and restaurants that Saavedra made while lobbying with government officials.
Saavedra said University policy regarding hospitality expenses will change because of the article.
"You've got to take responsibility for things, and because of the Journal article, we definitely are looking at our policies on purchasing tabs that are strictly alcohol," Saavedra said.
Saavedra's boss, Executive Vice President of Administration David Harris, said he was sure Saavedra was not drinking with the legislators. However, after he saw the article, Harris said the University's policy needed to be reviewed.
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"To me, it seemed that we needed to tighten up the operation a little bit," he said.
Harris said he is the final authority on reimbursements for Government Relations receipts and will no longer sign for bills that are strictly alcohol.
The lobbyists' expenses are reimbursed from a $22,000 hospitality budget.
Saavedra spent $233 in November on a tab that was closed at 12:20 a.m. The receipt listed 26 drinks and only four guests.
Saavedra said there were others drinking that night who were not listed on the receipt, and that will not happen in the future.
Harris said he has notified Saavedra that the University will no longer be picking up any bar tabs.
"I don't think that was ever the intention of the Intergovernmental Relations office," Harris said. "I think it was a practice that maybe (Saavedra) picked up perhaps when he was training for the position."
Saavedra said meeting over a meal and drinks is common in his line of work, and he spends less than others in the same industry.
Saavedra said that behavior does not make the University look good.
"It is practiced by other people in this business, but we are UNM," Saavedra said. "I don't want anybody to think for one minute that we're out there being irresponsible. It's just being hospitable."
Harris said that kind of hospitality is necessary for Saavedra's job.
"Obviously, you wouldn't be doing these things at all if it weren't consistent with your mission, which is to advance the legislative priorities of the University," Harris said.
Harris, Saavedra and University spokespersons all stressed that the funds used to pay hospitality expenses do not come from taxpayer dollars.
The money comes from the President's Fund, Harris said, which comes from private donors and fundraising activities like the Lobo Club and the Popejoy Society.
Harris said the University would never use legislative money to pay for lobbying legislators.
"I think that that would violate the trust that the Legislature places in the institution - that we will use appropriations to teach students and conduct research, to pursue the mission of the University," Harris said.
Though Harris' signature is required for reimbursements, he said the University's General Accounting Department is responsible for executing the policy in the University's manual.
"I think that our accounting people in processing reimbursements require detail. They require an explanation of what happened, who participated, etc., etc.," Harris said.
General Accounting Manager Doug Nelson did not return calls or e-mails last week.
The University Business Policies and Procedures Manual allows for the purchase of alcohol with UNM money, as long as it fits with "University business."
The policy also states that exceptions to that rule can be approved by Harris.
Harris said he has no plans to rewrite the policy.
"I think that the behavior is more important than what you say you can or cannot do in the big red policy manual. That's just the way I feel about it," he said.
Saavedra said he wants the University and the public to be assured that the Government Relations office is going to have a more conservative policy on alcohol purchases.
"In terms of how I conduct business, it's already changed," Saavedra said.
